Metallurgical process using liquid fuels
First Claim
1. In a process for the recovery of ferronickel from lateritic nickel ores utilizing liquid hydrocarbons, at a location remote from a source of liquid hydrocarbons, the improvement comprising:
- (i) blending heavy crude oil with naphtha to form a blend pumpable at ambient temperature;
(ii) transporting the blend between the source and the remote location by means which include pumping, at ambient temperature, through a pipeline;
(iii) fractionating the blend at the remote location to recover a light, low-sulphur naphtha product, and a heavy high-sulphur residual product;
(iv) partially combusting the naphtha product with air to form a hot reducing gas, and contacting the ore with the gas to obtain a hot, selectively reduced, calcine;
(v) using the heavy high-sulphur residual product for thermal generation of electrical energy;
(vi) using the electrical energy to melt the calcine to form a substantially barren slag underlain by a molten layer of ferronickel; and
(vii) separating the ferronickel from the slag.
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Abstract
A lateritic ore reduction process wherein a light, low sulphur-containing naphtha is employed to produce a pre-reduced calcine and a heavy residual fuel is utilized to provide the energy to subsequently melt the calcine, and wherein both operations are carried out at a location remote from a source of the fuels required. Two different fuels are mixed at the source to form a blend, which is pumped, at ambient temperature, through a single pipeline to the ore reduction plant. The blend is fractionated into two products required for two or more operations in the ore treatment, and the two product fuels are consumed substantially in their entirety in the respective operations.
2 Citations
5 Claims
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1. In a process for the recovery of ferronickel from lateritic nickel ores utilizing liquid hydrocarbons, at a location remote from a source of liquid hydrocarbons, the improvement comprising:
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(i) blending heavy crude oil with naphtha to form a blend pumpable at ambient temperature; (ii) transporting the blend between the source and the remote location by means which include pumping, at ambient temperature, through a pipeline; (iii) fractionating the blend at the remote location to recover a light, low-sulphur naphtha product, and a heavy high-sulphur residual product; (iv) partially combusting the naphtha product with air to form a hot reducing gas, and contacting the ore with the gas to obtain a hot, selectively reduced, calcine; (v) using the heavy high-sulphur residual product for thermal generation of electrical energy; (vi) using the electrical energy to melt the calcine to form a substantially barren slag underlain by a molten layer of ferronickel; and (vii) separating the ferronickel from the slag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification
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- Resources
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Current AssigneeFalconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. (Glencore Plc)
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Original AssigneeFalconbridge Nickel Mines Ltd. (Glencore Plc)
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InventorsNorman, James L., Mayhall, Donald J.
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Primary Examiner(s)Andrews, M. J.
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Application NumberUS06/009,880Time in Patent Office371 DaysField of Search75/10, 75/11, 75/21, 75/82, 75/133.5US Class Current75/10.39CPC Class CodesC22B 23/023 with formation of ferro-nic...
